Grahana / Eclipse

By Smt.Meera Tadipatri


Many of us know that at the start of grahana kaala, head bath with clothes on, should be taken. However, the thought during such snaana is more important.
Thus, those who are not in a position to follow mandated rules like snana, daana at the appropriate time, the more important dhyaanasnana should be done.

1. Whose's dhyaana and how to do:
One who is residing in the Sun, Vasudeva-Naaraayana, is present constantly ABOVE our own head. He, as Trivikrama, is the father of Gangadevi. This Gangadevi [along with Ramaa-Trivikrama], when called upon, bestows her grace on us by being in our own “shower”. While her water cleans our body, her grace purifies us by removing the “sins” which are the root cause of all our “roga” -- both mental and physical.

2. What is the specific name of the Lord INSIDE us who purifies us:
For each and every one of us the past-present-future karmas are specific and distinct, and it is controlled by specific rupas within our own “naadi-s”. Invoking/calling out this specific rupa-s gives desired results.

a. Vishodhana
b. Pundarikaxa


These two rupas are Vishnu SahasranAma rupas present within us in the naadi-s. By chanting their name, the Lord who bears these qualities to bless us by:

a. removing the deep accumulated sins from past
b. makes the present and future karmas devoid of doshas according to our yogyata.

3. Meaning of these two naamas:
a. Vishodhana: In Harikathamruta Saara, Dasaru prays this rupa [sakaladurita nivarana Sandhi, # 22] to bless us by removing all the hurdles its root cause accumulated over janmas.

kustha-nenisuva -- bhoomi-yoLu aa- |
shastha-nenisuva -- digwa-layadoLu |
khastha-nenipaa -- kaasha-doLu o -- bbobba-roLagi-ddu |
vyasta-nenisuva -- sarva-roLage sa- |
masta-nenisuva -- baLiya-liddu u- |
pastha-nenipa vi -- shOdha-na vishu-- ddhaatma-lOkado-Lu ||22-22||

Vishodhana means one who purifies in an extra ordinary way. That is, by being present in all devatas he has made them pure. Not only that, but He, as “Vishodhana” has bestowed Ganga the ability to purify bhaktas who come in contact with her. Thus while taking bath, if we call out the name of Ganga, keeping in mind the “guna-naama-rupa” it not only wipes the present sins but can also remove the accumulated sins to a great extent.

Also, Vishodhana, means the giver of “joy and instigation to Garuda, Shesha, and mano niyamaka Rudra. We, need their grace to do “japa, dhyaana and all mental related dharmas during the grahana period in particular.

b. Pundarikaxa: The one who makes the sins not cling to us just like how the water doesn't cling on to lotus. The Lord is present in our eyes with this “guna” to make our free from the contact of impurities so much so it needs no special cleaning.

4. Brief explanation of the names [naama-anusandhana]

a. Vi+sha+u+dha+na = vishodhana

vi = Garuda, also all those who have divine jnana
sha = Sukha
u = Rudra
dha = sampat

Giver of ananda to Garuda [ all devtas] and instigator of [manoniyamaka] Rudra or giver of greatest wealth [veda vidya and iha sampat] to all the devatas and those who worship them with knowledge.

b. Pundarikaxa:
a. One who gives sarva-adhaara for us by making “hrudaya” kamala as His abode and yet pervades everywhere especially in Vaikunta.

b. He gives light to Sun and pervades in our eyes to give light. Like agni, he removes all impurities/sins and keeps it pure.

5. Daana
Daana basically means “giving up” ahankaara – the false notion that everything is “mine” and when one forgets the real owners of all that we have, we get sin. This past sin is indicated by the naxatra at the time of grahana. Thus it is a reminder to those in particular to make amends for what was done in the past so that it doesn't haunt us now or in future it prevents us from making such mistakes.
Make a sankalpa in the mind “to give back” and symbolically give staple food – wheat rawa, rice, til oil along with daxina. Ideally, it is best to give it to a brAhmana who knows its significance or to a maTha if nearby.

Daana sankalpa mantra:
ChandrAntargata, UmApati RudrAntargata, BhAratIramana MukhyaprANAntargata shrI Dadhi VAmana abhinna shrI Dhanvantri abhinna shrI LakshmI NArAyana preranayaa shrI LakshmI NArAyana preetyarthaM ChandroparAga peeDaa parihArArthaM --- dAnamaham kariShye.  Here mention the daana item in the place of ---.

Shri KrishNArpaNamastu !!
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Art by Smt.Vani Rao, Baton Rouge,LA

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